Supporting device for manipulating tools



June 26, 1928'. 1,674,669

P. 'A. STEDMAN SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING TOOLS Filed. on. 21, 1927 Patented June 26,1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

rERoY ARTHUR STEDMAN, or Romany, INDIA.

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING TOOLS.

Application filed October 21, 1927, Serial No. 227,696fand in Great Britain March 14, 1927.

This invention relates to'a supporting device for manipulating tools, particularly portable machine tools which are operated by pneumatic, hydraulic and electric power. The heavier classes of tools for drilling, riveting, punching, Welding and other purposes have usually hitherto been held in the hand during manipulation which involves considerable physical exertion on the part of the operator, and interferes with accurate work, especially when the tool has to be used in various positions.

An important object of the invention is to provide a portable device which shall not only carry the tool, but will facilitate its easy manipulation in various positions without any appreciable weight or jarring on g the hand of the operator who will, conse I quently, be free to use his skill and judgment without any physical strain or exertion due to bearing the weight of the tool.

Another object is to provide that the tool can be readily moved into various positions of altitude and azimuth about a support which is itself readily movable from place to place, the tool being also adjustableinto various positions on the device in whatever position of adjustment the latter may be situated.

According to an important feature of the invention there is provided the combination of a support, a telescopic extensible arm that is pivotally mounted between its ends on said support and has a slidable section' arranged to carry a tool at one side of the support, abalance weight so carried by the arm at the other side of the support as to be movable towards and away from the support, and means so operatively connecting the balance weight with said slidable section as automatically to cause the weight and said section to approach and recede from said support in unison.

The invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims. I

One embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically illustrated in perspective by way of example in the accompanying draw-- Referring to the drawing, a wheeled telescopic tripod stand comprises a two-part hollow tubular standard A, C, whereof the upper part C is journalled in the lower part at B, and a stem D which may be tubular, is adjustable vertically by means of a clamp C provided on the part C. The stem D is thus free to rotate in the standard A, C, and carries a U-shaped bracket E at its upper end, to which is pivoted the telescopic extensible arm aforesaid. This arm comprises a tubular section H pivoted in the bracket E to rock about a horizontal axis, and 'a slidable section J which may also be a tube. Attached to the free end of the section J is a bracket M constituting a toolholder, in which a tool 0 is'mounted to swing.

The end of the pivoted section H at the side of the stand remote from thetool-holder slidably carries a balance weight T which is proportioned to the weight of the tool and tool-holder to be used. A collar U is rotatable on a sleeve attached to the weight T, and a collar K is rotatable on a sleeve attached to the bracket M, and these collars which are both rotatable about the ngitudinal axis of the telescopic arm H, are connected respectively by means of pivoted links S, R, to the opposite ends of equalizing levers G, one at each side of the bracket E. These levers G are pivoted to rock about the same horizontal axis as the extensible arm H, J, and the movements of this arm in space do not alter the relation of the toolholder M and the counterpoise T. On the other hand, if the section J is moved into or out of the section H, the weight T will also be moved in corresponding directions by means. of the links R, S, and the levers G, and will thereby balance the tool 0 in its new position. The collar K allows the section J to rotate about its own longitudinal axis together with the tool-holderM and the tool .0, without affecting the angular position of the links R in relation to the levers G, and consequently without shifting the weight T along its support.

It will be seen that tools of all kinds and various sizes can be placed in various positions, their weight being balanced by the counterpoise, thus relieving the operator from the exertion and work of carrying and supporting the tool in position, and enabling him to perform the work with skill and accuracy. By the use of the device according to the present invention, the tool. can be used in a vertical, horizontal, radial and angular position, and in intermediate positions as indicated by the arrows, and it is only when the distance between the point of support of the tool and the horizontal pivotal axis of the extensible arm varies, and with it the distribution of Weight about that axis, that the counterpoise T is shifted; in other positions, the balance of the tool is not upset, and hence the counterpoise mechanism is not called into operation. The device accordingto the invention may be used with various kinds of tools such as are required in large factories and machine shops, as well as for lighter work. It can not only be read ily run along the fioor from one part of a shop to another, but also readily adjusted in height to suit the work in hand.

1. In a'device of the character described, the combination of a support, a telescopic extensible arm that is pivotally mounted between its ends on said support and has a slidable section arranged to carry a tool at one side of the support, a balance weight so carried by the arm at the other side of the support as to be movable towards and awa from the support, and means so-operative y connectingtthe balance weight with said slidable section as automatically to cause the weight and said section to approach and recede from said support in unison. L

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support, a telescopic extensible arm that is pivotally mounted between its ends on said support and has a slidable section arranged to carry a tool at one side of the support, a balance weight so carried by the arm at the other side of the support as to be movable towards and away from the support, and a linkage pivotally mounted on said support and so opratively connecting the balance weight with said slidable section as automatically to cause the weight and said section to approach and recede from said support in unison.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support, a telesco ic extensible arm that is pivotally mounted between its ends on said support and has a slidable section arranged to carry a tool at one side of the support, a balance weight so carried by the arm at the other side of the support as to be movable towards and away from the support, and alinkage pivotally mounted on said support coaxially with said arm, which linkage so operatively connects the balance weight with said slidablesection as automatically to cause the weight and said section to approach and recede from said support in unison.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support, a telescopic extensible arm that is pivotally mounted between its ends on said support and has a slidable section arranged to carry a tool at one side of the support, a balance :weight so carried by the arm at the other side of the support as .to be movable towards and away from the support, and a linkage comprising a doubleended lever mounted to rock about the axis of pivoting of said arm, a link connecting one arm of said lever with said slidable section, and a second link connecting the other arm of said lever with said weight, the ratio of the lengths of which lever arms is equal to the ratio of the distances between. the said pivotal axis and the points of connection of their respective links to the extensible arm.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support that is adjustable in height, a telescopic extensible arm that is mounted to swivel between its ends on said adjustable support and has a slidable section arranged to carry a tool at one side of the support, a balance weightso carried by the arm at the other side of the support as to .be movable towards and away fromthe support, and means so operatively connecting the balance weight -with said slidable section as automatically to cause the weight and said sect-ion to approach and recede from said support in unison in various positions of adjustment of the sup rt. 6. In a device of the character escribed, the combination of a telescopicsupport, a telescopic beam that is pivotally mounte between its ends on said support and has a oes one side of the support, a balance weight so carried by the beam at the other side of. the

support as to be movable towards and away from the support, and means so operatively connecting the balance wei ht with said slidable section as'automaticafly to cause the weight and said section to approach and recede from said support in unison.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support, an extensible arm that is pivotally mounted between its ends to swivel on said support and is arranged to ,carry a tool at one side of the support, a counterpoise for'the tool so carried by the arm at the other side of the support as to be movable towards and away connecting the counterpoise with the tool carrying end of the arm as automatically to cause the counterpoise and said end of the arm to approach and recede from said support in unison.

8. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a wheeled support, a telescopic extensible arm that is pivotally mounted between its ends on said support and has a slidable section arranged to carry side of the support as to be movable towards and-away from the support, and means so a tool at one side of the support, a balance weight so carried by the arm at the other 6 the combination of a support, a telescopic extensible arm that is ivotally mounted tween its ends to swive on said support and has a slidable section arranged to carry a tool at one side of the support, a balance 10 weight so carried'by the arm. at the other side of the support as to be movable to-- wards and away from the support, a toolholder so carried by said slidable section as to be'rotatable'about the longitudinal axislfiethereof, a. collar onsaid slidable section,-

which collar is held against movement along but is rotatable about said longitudinal axis, and a linkage that is pivotally mounted on said support, and is pivotally 20 connected to said collar and said weight, and

is arran ed to cause the weight and said tool-hol er to approach and recede from said support in unison.

10. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a telescopic support in the form of a wheeled tripod,- a telescopic extensible armcom rising at least'twosections' whereof one is pivotally mounted to swivel on said support and extends to one side thereof, and {the other constitutin a slidable section extends towards the ot er side of the support, a balance we! ht slidable along the pivoted section, a toololder carried by the free end of said slidable section, a collar that is associated with said toolholder and is held against movement along but is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said slidable section, linkage comprising a double-ended lever mounted to rock about i the axis of pivoting of the pivoted section, a link pivotally connecting one arm of said leverwith said collar, and a second link pivotally connecting the other arm of said lever with said weight, the ratio of the lengths of which lever arms is equal to the ratio of the distances-between the said pivotal axis and the points of connection of their respective links to the extensible arm.

In testimon whereof I aflix m' si nature.

- PER Y ARTHUR ST D1A-N. 

